Daily Prayer

Thursday, 30 April 2009

Paul writes – Continuing some of the themes of the last couple of days. This time Anglican Priest Malcolm Chamberlain offers some very useful thoughts on Eucharist. It’s a follow up to an earlier post he’d written (and which he references in the excerpt below). I reflected on a similar theme last year, and have done so from time-to-time, prior to that. Worth a read is Sara Miles’ book Take this Bread which is a fairly provocative book on the same theme (though more a memoir).

“…Following a conversation I had with my Bishop about what policy I practiced in admitting people to Communion who have not been baptised, let alone confirmed. I remember feeling a bit uncomfortable with the question until he assured me that he wasn't trying to catch me out! He went on to recommend a book by Timothy Gorringe called The Sign of Love and lent me the book, which I reviewed here. The gist of Gorringe's argument is that the Last Supper was, for Jesus, a continuation of the table fellowship that had so characterised his ministry, and through which he had included those often considered outsiders by the religion and culture of his day. Gorringe sets out a clear case for Jesus using table fellowship redemptively, which culminates in the Last Supper. Therefore, he suggests, Communion should be offered widely and becomes, for many, the means of connecting with God's grace and the community of faith. Rather than admission to Communion following on from baptism, Gorringe argues that the Eucharist should be offered unconditionally to all, and may itself become a significant part of a person's story leading them to a fuller identification with the community of faith…”

Mike Riddell has also written very usefully on the theme in Tui Motu – most recently here. I think one of the traps, particularly for a church within a sacramental tradition (e.g. Catholic, Anglican…) is that the focus is solely on Eucharist to the detriment of hard work of genuine community building inside and outside of the church. Mike Riddell wrote a fascinating reflection in Tui Motu a few years ago in which he reflected on his experience of living (at one point) in a commune and wondered if that kind of intentional community was even possible. Instead, from memory, he wondered if the “call” was to focus on working to build, sustain, nourish, reconcile, and heal relationships etc; to build and work for community in the contexts which we find ourselves. I think the monastic tradition also has some very interesting and useful things to say about community – imagine working out a vow of stability in a monastery with a group of other monks, none of whom you may have chosen to share your life and life-journey with…?

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Paul writes – Mike Riddell writes the feature article in the April issue of independent NZ Catholic publication Tui Motu. It’s the first of three articles on St.Paul. Below is an excerpt. You can read the whole article here (if this link takes you, at some point, to a different “feature” go to the archives – you should find it there).

“…Paul’s words surely have significance in the ecumenical arena as well. How is it that we continue to celebrate Communion when there are “divisions” and “factions” rending the church? Does the Catholic stream of faith sin against catholicity in its exclusion of others from participation? Is this ‘fencing of the table’ a dishonouring of the body of Christ which it purports to celebrate?

It may be thought that such issues are in the realm of church politics rather than that of devotion. But Paul reminds us time and time again that the way we act carries and forms the shape of our belief. It’s in the midst of historical quarrels that we demonstrate faith, or the lack of it…”

Tuesday, 28 April 2009

Paul writes – Olive and John Drane reflect on the challenges of building community; of turning words into actions. Here’s a snippet from their reflection:

“...Talking about community has become a trendy thing to do in recent years. Doing it seems more challenging. It’s easy to tell a thousand people they need to go out there and make friends - just very difficult to hang out and do it yourself. Yet the true test of a Jesus follower is surely always going to be what we do, and how we relate, not what we say in the midst of our busy schedules. It’s easy to be so immersed in our own schedules and events that we forget that most basic thing of all: that being is more spiritually enriching than constantly doing...”

You can read the whole reflection here. I remember Eugene Peterson reflecting on the dangers of busyness and productivity for community and relationship-building, especially in the pastorate. I’m aware too of the challenges given a number of my close friends live at quite some distance from me. There’s a real discipline to letter/card writing, e-mails, and the occasional telephone call or visit. I’ve also had the hard experiences of relationships and attempts at community fail, particularly in respect of church belonging. It often seems that genuine and deep community is much more difficult with church people than it is with those outside of church contexts. I’ve never worked out why that is.

Monday, 27 April 2009

Paul writes – I’ve enjoyed listening to an excellent interview with Jon Kabat-Zinn on Speaking of Faith (it aired April 16th 2009). The “promo” describes the interview in this way:

“Scientist and author Jon Kabat-Zinn has changed medicine through his work on meditation and stress. We explore what he has learned, through science and experience, about mindfulness as a way of life. This is wisdom with immediate relevance to the ordinary and extreme stresses of our time — from economic peril, to parenting, to life in a digital age…”

You can find the interview (able to listened too and downloaded as an Mp3) here. There is also a transcript.

The last time I encountered Kabat-Zinn was through a great quote and reference to one of his books by a Catholic Priest facilitating an excellent workshop earlier this year on “the sacrament of the present moment”.

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Paul writes – Here’s a great example of bringing context, mission and tradition into conversation. In the town where I live we have a classic old church building and not a lot for young people to do in the evenings...

“...A few months ago, some of the club chaplain team were talking about the big traditional churches dotted around town, and about how there is often a special 'something' about these places. Of course we all know that God is everywhere and that the church is the people not the building – but nonetheless there is often something tangibly distinct about these old churches which means that just entering these places, just being there, can be a spiritual experience itself.

Then we started thinking about St. Peter’s Church right slap bang in the middle of Bournemouth, with a club on either side of it and a club right opposite it. Then we started thinking about what might happen if we opened it up overnight one weekend when all the clubs were at their busiest. Then we started thinking that probably nothing would happen, that no-one would want to come in – but that we would give it a shot anyway...”

Friday, 24 April 2009

Paul writes – I recently came across this great quote by Thomas Merton via Dan Phillips over at “Monastic Skete”. “Thanks” Dan.

“The things I thought were so important – because of the effort I put into them – have turned out to be of small value. And the things I was never able to either to measure or to expect were the things that mattered.”

Thursday, 23 April 2009

In the 17th Century everybody [in England,primarily] believed in God. God was someone to be appeased. For example, were you good enough to avoid hell? There was a lot of worry about ensuring you didn’t go to hell when you died. In the 20th and early 21st century the big question isn’t “am I going to Hell?” It’s instead the deep, often subconscious fear that God is not there at all…

If true, there are some significant missional challenges and opportunities.

Monday, 20 April 2009

Paul writes – Quoting Ian Mobsby – “This is Moot's Rhythm of Life Service, where the community annually commits to the aspirations of its Rhythm of Life before the Bishop of London. The service was a combination of an alternative worship service and Holy Communion. The Film includes the thoughts of the community on the theme of the service. 'Living with hope in a culture of uncertainty'.”

“…True community and traditional churches are incompatible. Part of the problem is the idea of a pastoral calling being a career and also the view that church leaders are interchangeable parts that can be swapped in and out for the good of the community. In both ways, the commodification of those who are a part of the community destroys it and makes it not much different then any other profit driven company…

“As good as Joe Myers book is (and it is excellent), it is a minority voice in a crowded market of people trying to sell the exact opposite of what Joe is writing. The leader/pastor has been so ingrained in how we see the church and we have spent so much time [building up those people], it is going to take a long time and a lot of discussion for the church to move away from it. Ironically, for the first bit, it may even take a strong leader to have the church to stop thinking in terms of hierarchical leadership and start thinking in terms of community (rather than just blather on about it)…”